Cigarette delivery and lighting device



April 28, 1931. F. c. COPELAND 1,802,629

CIGARETTE DELIVERY AND LIGHTING DEVICE iled Nov. 1 1925 FIEJ, FIEE.

FIE.3. FIE 1.4.

ESTATES TENT orl-"ica 018 C. boPELAND, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIAcrenr'rn DELIVERY Ann LIGHTING nnvrcn Application filed November 12,1923. Serial No. 674,381.

My invention relates to devices for feeding cigarettes from a magazineand for lighting the cigarettes. One ofthe objects of the invention isthe provision of means particularly useful as an attachment forautomobiles, and with which cigarettes may be removed, one at a time, asdesired, from a magazine, and simultaneously and automatically ignited.

1 -My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, someof which, with the foregoing, willgbe set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of my invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and formlng part of the specification. Itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to theshowing made by thesaid drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of thepreferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure is 'an elevation of the device,

parts being shown in section. The parts are shown in their normallyinoperative'position.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view'thru the device, the plane ofsection being indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation similar to that of Figure 1, but showing acigarette in the act of being ignited. y

' Figure 4 is a side elevation, a portion of the cover plate beingomitted.- The direction of the view is indicated by the arrow 4, in Fiure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view thru the device, the plane ofsection being indicated by the line 5-.5 of Figure 4.

In terms of broad inclusion, my'inven tion comprises a casing which isadapted to be fastened, preferably, on the dash of an automobile. Amagazine'adapted to hold a quantity of cigarettes is arranged within thecasing, and-a feeding device delivers cigarettes, one at a time, to abracket arranged in the casing so that the cigarette thereon is readilyaccessible to the fingers. A resistance element adaptedto be renderedincan- 5o descent is arranged at one end of the bracket,

and a suctionhead is slidably disposed at contacts with the resistanceelement, simultaneously closing an electric circuit thru the resistanceelement.. With the incandescent element at one end of the cigarette,and' the opposite end of the bracket in a socket or suction beingexerted at the opposite end, the

cigarette is ignited in exactly the same manner as it is between thelips of the smoker.

In order .to delay the operation sufficiently to insure the lighting ofthe cigarette, recovery movement of the parts is prevented by a latch.With the release of the latch, all. the partsreturn to first positionand the lighted cigarette may-be lifted from the bracket. I

In detail, my device comprises a casing formed with a back 2, top flange3, bottom flange 4, and side flanges 5 of the general contour best shownin Figure 4. Holes 6 in the back are provided thru which fasteningscrews pass into the dash to hold the device thereon. Pivotally mountedon the shaft 7 journaled in the side flanges 5, is a magazine 8, dividedlongitudinally, by the partition wall- 9, into two compartments, each ofwhich is adapted to hold a quantity of cigarettes, as shown in Figure 2.To permit loading of the magazine it may be swung outwardly about itspivot to the position shown in the dotted lines of Figure 2, in whichposition it is held by the engagement of the shoulder 11 on the side ofthe magazine against the tongue 12, formed from the side flange 5 of thecasing. The magazine is retained in position within the casing by thefrictional engagement of the lip 13; onthe topflange of the casing, withthe front/wall of the magazine.

into the bracket.

having a portion 17 depressed, as shown, to'

form a longitudinal groove in the face of the roller, sufiiciently largeto accommodate a cigarette. Immediately behind the feed roller, the backof the casing is curved, as shown best in Figure 2, so as to permit the'feed' roller to carry a cigarette around and drop it in the bracketformed by the two arms 18, which conveniently may be formed by strikingout tongues from' the back of the casing.

Means are provided for rotating the feed roller to deliver a cigarettefrom the magazine Fixed on the end of the shaft 7, on the outside of thecasing wall 5, is a pinion 21 in mesh with the rack bar 22, whichterminates at its upper end in a key 23, adapted to be pressed by thefinger. The rack bar is slidably mounted in a guide 24, and a spring 26secured at one end to the casing and at the other end to an arm 27,extending from the rack bar, effects the recovery movement of the rack,pinion and feed roller.

Means are also provided for engaging the cigarette in the bracketbetween an incandescent element at one end and a suction head at theother end, so that the cigarette is ignited. These devices are socorrelated with the feed roller that they act automatically upon thedelivery of a cigarette upon the bracket. Arranged on the side of thecasing is a cylinder 31, connected by the tube 32 and flexible hose 33,with the intake manifold of the motor. The passage from the intakemanifold opens in the side of the cylinder, in a port 34, which isnormally covered by the piston'36, slidably disposed in the cylinder,and forming part of the suction head 37. The suction head is alsoprovided with a passage 38 which opens on the side of the piston in sucha position that when the suction head is extended (to the right ofFigure 5) into contact with the cigarette, the port 34 is uncovered andthe suction caused by the vacuumized condition of the intake manifold isfelt on the end of the suction head.

Movement of the suction head in time with the movement of the feedroller is secured by a lever 39 pivoted on the guide 24, and

' pivotally connected by the pin 41 with the piston 36. The opposite endof the lever is formed with acam face 42, adapted to be engaged by thestud 43, on the rack bar so that when the rack bar is depressed byfinger pressure on the key 23, the lever 39 is moved to push the suctionhead 37 inwardly into contact with the cigarette. A spring 44 effectsthe recovery movement of the lever and suction head.

Such inward movement of the suction head also carries the cigarette tothe right a short distance and into contact with the resist- ,casing andinsulated therefrom. When the suction head is extended it comes intocontact with the arm 48 and grounds the circuit thru the resistanceelement which thereupon becomes incandescent and ignites the end of thecigarette pressed against it.

Since cigarettes vary in dryness and in the density of the pack, somerequire a longer period in which to become ignited than others, and Itherefore prefer to provide means for preventing the recovery movementof the parts, after the cigarette has been deposited in the bracket, andthe suction head extended to effect the lighting of the cigarette, untilreleased by a finger operated latch. I therefore provide a springpressed latch pin 51 slidable in guides 52, preferably formed as tonguesstamped from the body of the easing. The rear end of the pin is hookedor offset to adapt it to engage the rear of the rack, as best shown inFigure 4. As the rack bar is depressed, the pin snaps into a suitablerecess therein'and holds it and its related mechanism in this position,until pressure of the finger on the exposed end of the pin releases therack bar, whereupon all of the parts return to first position.

The connections for the resistance element on one side of the casing areprotected by a housing 54, and the rack, pinion and lever mechanism onthe opposite side is protected by a housing 56. The housing 56 isretained in position by suitable tongues formed on the edges thereof,engaging in apertures 57 formed in the casing. A single screw 58threaded into the casing in the hole 59, holds the housing securely. Thehousing 54 is retained in a similar manner.

Operation Depression of the key 23 operates thru the rack and pinion tooscillate the feed roll 16, which turns in the direction of the arrow,Figure 2, and drops the cigarette f in the groove into the bracket. Asthe rack bar approaches the lower portion of its movement, the lever 39is rocked to extend the suction head into contact with the cigarette andpress the cigarette over against the resistance element, which contactoccurs simultaneously with the uncovering of the port 34, and theapplication of suction to the adjace'nt end of the cigarette. The partsare held in this position by the latch 51, which upon being released,permits the rack to return to first position carrying the feed rollerwith it, whereupon another cigarette drops into the groove in theroller, ready for the next operation. The recovery movement of neoaeae Ithe suction head covers the port 34 and releases the cigaretteso thatitmay be taken from the bracket.

, I claim:

l. A cigarette delivery and lighting device comprising a casin amagazine for cigarettes pivoted in sai casing, a bracket below saidmagazine, a grooved roller in the bottom of said magazine for deliveringcigarettes from said magazine .to said bracket,

finger operated devices for oscillating said roller, means for lightingthe cigarette on the bracket, and means operated by. said fingeroperated devices for activating said lighting means.. 1 I

2. A cigarette delivery and lighting device comprising a casing, amagazine for cigarettes arranged in said casing, a bracket below saidmagazine, a grooved roller in the bottom of said magazine forfeedingcigarettesfrom said magazine to said bracket, means for oscillating saidroller, and means-activated by'said oscillating means for lighting thecigarette on the bracket.

3 A cigarette delivery and lighting device comprising a bracket, meansfor feeding a cigarette to said bracket, a resistance element at one endof said bracket, a cylinder at the opposite end of said bracketconnected thru a port to a Vacuumized chamber, a suction head comprisinga piston arranged in said cylinder and having a passage therethruadapted to register with said port when the suction head is extended,and means operatively-connected to said feeding means for extending thesuction head to engage. the cigarette between the suction head and theresistance element and for closing a circuit thru the resistanceelement.

4. A cigarette delivery and lighting device comprising a casing, amagazine for cigarettes arranged in said casing, a bracket below saidmagazine, a grooved roller in the bottom of said magazine for feedingcigarettes from said magazine to said bracket, a rack and pinionmechanism for oscillating said roller, a spring for effecting therecovery movement of said rack, a resistance element at-one end of saidbracket, a cylinder at the opposite end of said bracket connected thru aport to a vacuumized chamber, a suction head comprising a pistonarrangedin said cylinder and having a passage therethru adapted toregister with said port when the suction head is extended,

a lever pivotally connected to said suction head and having a cam faceadapted to be engaged by said rack to extend the suction head when therack is operated to actuate the feed roller and means operative when thesuction headiis extended for closing the circuit thru said resistanceelement.

5. In a device of the class described, a container for cigarettes; amovable receiver beneath said container having a chamber adapted toreceive from said container a single cigacom rette; and a lightingdevice at one end of said 7 chamber adapted to be placed in commissionby the, movement of said receiver.

' 6. In a device of the class described, a con- 7 tainer for cigarettes;an oscillating receiver beneath said container having a chamber adaptedto receive from said container a single cigarette; a lighting device atone end of said chamber adapted to be placed .in commission by theoscillation of said receiver; and automatic means at the opposite end ofsaid chamber rendered effective by movement of said receiver for forcingthe end of the cigarette against said lighting device.

7. A holder and igniter for cigarettes and the like comprising areceptacle, a rotary cylinder closing the bottom of the receptacle andhaving a longitudlnal groove in 1ts periphery,

pensing position to direct a draft upon the igniting element and the endof the cigarette for conveying heat into the cigarette for lighting thesame.

9. A cigarette dispensing and lighting case ising a cigarette containeradapted to receive a plurality of cigarettes; a normally inactiveigniting element; a dispensing element pivotally mounted in connectionwith the'container and adapted to be moved to carry cigarettes singlyfrom the container to a dispensing position with one end of thecigarette in engagement with the igniting. element; and means associatedwith the dispensing element and the igniting-element for energizing theigniting element when the dispensing element is moved to the dispensingposition; and means actuated by the move ment of the dispensing elementto dispensing position to directa draft upon the igniting element andthe adjacent end of the cigarette ceive a p urality of cigarettes; adispensing element pivotally mounted in connection with the containerand provided with a longitudinal recess adapted to receive a singlecigarette from the container; a normally inactive igniting elementmounted adjacent the end of the dispensing element; means for movingthecigarette to force one end of said cigarette against the ignitingelement when the dispensing element is movedto a; dispensing position;means for energizing the igniting element thru 0 eration of saiddispensing means; and dra roducing means for directing a draft upon t eigniting element and the adjacent end of the cigarette.

12. In a device oi the class described, a container for cigarettes; anoscillating receiver beneath said container having a chamber adapted toreceive from said container a single cigarette; a lighting device at oneend of said chamber adapted to be placed in commission by theoscillation of said receiver; and means at the opposite end of saidchamber for forcing the end of the cigarette against said lightingdevice.

13. In combination, a container for cigarettes, opposed suction andignition members mounted in connection with but below the container,means' for dispensing cigarettes one by one from the container,-cradlesreceiving a cigarette as dispensed and supporting the same in alinementwith and between the suction and ignition members, one of the latterbeing movable to and from the other to enable the supported cigarette tobe engaged with said members, and means controlledby the operation ofthe dispensing means for moving said one member toward the other.

14. In combination, a container for cigarettes, opposed suction andignition members mounted in connection with but below the container,means for dispensing cigarettes one by one from the container, cradlesreceiving a cigarette as dispensed and supporting the same in alinementwith and between the suction and ignition members, one of the latterbeing movable to and from the other to enable the supported cigarette tobe engaged with said members, means controlled by the operation of thedispensing means for moving said one member toward the other, normallyclosed passage, means to the suction element, and means controlled bythe operation of the dispensing means for opening said passage means.

15. In combination, a container for cigarettes, ignition means arrangedin connection therewith, a movable dispensing element,

means whereby a certain movement of said element will cause a cigaretteto be dispensed, means then causing the cigarette to be alined with theignition means, and means whereby with a further movement of saidelement the ignition means will be caused to function.

16. in combination, a container for ciga a common means for operatingthe dispenserto move a cigarette into said alined position and forsubsequently causing the ignition means to function.

17. in combination, a container for cigarettes, opposed suction andignition members mounted below the container, one of said members beingmovable toward the other, means including a movable element fordispensing cigarettes from the container, supporting means for acigarette thus dispensed to maintain the same in alinement with andbetween the suction and ignitionelements, and means between said movablemember and the dispensing means for causing the movable member to bem'oved with a speed proportionate to that of the movable dispensingelement and only after a cigarette has been dispensed.

18. In combination,'a container for cigarettes, a dispensing means,supports for a cigarette as dispensed, a normally inactive ignitionmeans with which the cigarette is then aligned, and a common means tomove a cigarette into said ali ed position and for subsequently causingthe ignition means to function.

19. In combination, a container for cigarettes, a dispensing means,supports for a cigarette as dispensed, suction means in alignment withsaid supports, a normally inactive ignition means in alignment with saidsupports, and a common means for actuating said suction and ignitionmeans, whereby to light a cigarette.

20. A cigarette delivery and lighting device comprising a container forcigarettes, means for delivering a single cigarette from said containerupon eaclractuation, a support outside of the container to receive thecigarette so delivered, a normally inactive ignition device co-operatingwith said support, and means for aligning the cigarette with theigniting device and activating the latter.

21. A cigarette dispensing and lighting de vice comprising'a container.for cigarettes, means to deliver a single cigarette at a time from saidcontainer, exposed supporting means in position to receive the cigarettedispensed from said container, normally inactive igniting meansassociated with the supporting means, adapted to be engaged with one endof the cigarette while the latter is carried by said supporting means,and means to actuate the ignitin means.

22. A device of t e character described, comprising a container forcigarettes, means for segregating and delivering a single cigarette fromthe container, a normally inactive igniting means and a single controlmeans, and capable upon each actuation of segregating a slngle cigarettefrom the container and actuating the igniting means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set in hand. a I

y FRANCIS C. COPELAND.

